My Makeup Basics

I have always preferred drugstore brand makeup as a whole because it offers you tons of options for a fair price. Also, since a lot of the drugstore brands try to mimic pricier brands (e.l.f. consistently comes out with Sephora and MAC knockoffs, ) you can purchase a lot of new items for less.

Here are my makeup basics using all drugstore brands! These are the items I use every day, regardless of how I choose to wear eyeshadow, eyeliner or lipstick. The total for these items (save the anti-wrinkle cream) is less than $20!

Blurry iPhone photo alert!!!

 Face

I have never been a fan of foundation, but I like to have a little coverage, especially in areas where I have sun damage. I used mineral powder for a long time, but was never satisfied with the results. BB Creams have been a godsend, but some of the formulas are still a little too thick for my taste, so I mix my day moisturizer with equal parts CoverGirl BB Cream in Fair/Light and apply that to my entire face and part of my neck using my fingers. Then I use CoverGirl Invisible blemish concealer in fair underneath my eyes and across my upper lip (I have tons of freckles there and it can make me look weird if I don’t cover them up) and apply it with a foundation brush.

I also apply a healthy dose of e.l.f. Studio Blush in Twinkle Pink for spring/summer and in Tickled Pink for fall/winter on the apples of my cheeks with a fluffy blush brush. e.l.f.’s blush is really sheer and has a little sheen to it, so it looks natural and gives your cheeks a nice flush!

Eyes

I have just become a fan of filling in my eyebrows – I feel like it really finishes your face and makes you look younger. I stopped plucking my eyebrows a few years ago (good lord did I used to overtweeze!), save the strays that were in between my eyes and the ones in my eyelid area. Over the years the edges of my eyebrows have thinned out, so I apply the powder from e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light with a stiff makeup brush to fill them in, and finish them with a sweep of the wax using the little applicator brush that comes with the kit to keep them in place.

Then I curl my lashes 3 times – once at the base, once halfway up, then again on the ends (holding for 3 seconds each time so they really stay curled) and apply 4-5 coats of CoverGirl Lashblast Volumizing Mascara in Very Black. 

A blurry iPhone selfie - but this is me with just the basics on and a little lipstick

 What are your makeup basics?